Making beautiful glass beads 31 July 2020 to 6 August 2020with Sarah Downton

About this course

Make glass beads in the flame using gas torches, coloured glass rods and techniques including encasing, using silver, shaping and press moulds. Practise increasingly complex designs and shaping to make several collections of beads.

Course Description

Glass bead making is an accessible way of working hot glass and this course delivers an introduction to this exciting art form. Learn to make beautiful glass beads in the flame using a gas torch, coloured glass rods and several decorative techniques and materials. Those with some experience will be able to hone techniques and learn more control of the hot glass.

By the end of the course you will have made between 50 to 100 beads, depending on size and individual speed of work, and a piece of jewellery or collection of beads created using some of these beads. The confidence and information gained will enable you to make beads independently and set up a torch at home. Those with prior experience will have refined their skills and have a deeper understanding of the process.

You will receive plenty of torch time and a good grounding to the processes, materials and safe working practice. Learning is done in steps to build up skills and make increasingly complex designs and shapes, or practice and improve existing and new skills. Tutor demonstrations will be followed by individual practice, and occasional group and individual discussions.

Repetition is necessary early on to help coordination and become more relaxed with the process. As the course progresses individual practice time will increase allowing you to pursue your personal ideas and consolidate skills.

You will be given basic technical information about glass, and will discuss tips for making better beads and the attributes of the perfect bead. A variety of books and the tutor’s beads will be available to view for inspiration.

Techniques include:

• Application of frits, powder, dots, stringer and metal.

• Surface manipulation including raking, twisting and poking.

• Hand shaping cylinders and hearts.

• Using presses to shape glass.

• Encasing.

• Your choice of techniques for those with experience.

Several evening events are planned throughout the week, a detailed timetable for your Summer School week will be given to you on arrival. Dinner is included for non-resident students throughout the week to enable participation in these events.

Please note that lampwork beads are heavy so materials need to be strong.

Any beads or jewellery that you have made previously or that you aspire to.

Available to buy

Available from shop:

A small range of findings and wires

Available from tutor:

The tutor may supply some of the materials such as fine silver foil and wire, a small amount of frit, and rivets to glue into big hole beads. This charge will be minimal and should be paid to the tutor before the end of the course.

Tutors

Sarah started making glass beads in 2002 and teaching beadmaking
in 2006. She sells at bead and art fairs, is a City and Guilds
qualified teacher and four times judge of the British Bead
Awards.
She is a member of the Surrey Guild of Craftsmen (where she sells
her work), Glass Beadmakers UK and the International Society of
Glass Beadmakers.

Accommodation

Residential option available. Find out accommodation costs and how to book here.